Chapter 8: CHAPTER FIVE | ♕

[𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 : 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍]

"  𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒, 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘.  "

✯✯✯

𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐑𝐊 was like being a kid in a candy store. That's what it felt like for the Aristocrats as they walked around to block to the elite club downtown. Every year someone from their school threw a back to school party after the first week, and they had a poll to see which one so far has been the best. Currently, Theo Kensington held the crown.

"Second week back to school, and I still can't believe we're seniors." Camila practically was skipping down the sidewalk. Her rose gold colored slip dress reflected her bubbly mood as Ezra threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Here's to staying young for the rest of our lives, baby." He passed her the wine bottle he was still drunkenly carrying and she took a long swig.

"That's not going to happen, Ezra." Meili said coldly.

Her posture was poised and perfect as she walking making Ezra wonder if she was some sort of technologically advanced robot without feelings or something. In all the years he'd known her he hadn't found a flaw in her yet.

"We may grow old on the outside, MeiMei, but we'll stay young on the inside forever." He paused, "Except you. You act like you've already aged a few years." Meili rolled her eyes.

"I love your dress." Sebastian fell in stride with her.

"Are you drunk?" She raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at him in the corner of her eye.

He was laughing slightly, dimples forming in his cheeks when he smiled. His laugh was a bit husky, the kind that made you want to hear it again, and his eyes glimmered with a comfortable familiarity that beckoned Mei to want to feel closer to him. She wanted to know him.

"It takes a lot more than one glass of wine to get me drunk, sweetheart." He looked over at her and winked.

If he was a different guy and he said that comment she'd be unamused, but with Sebastian for some reason she didn't mind. Mostly because she found him hot.

When Meili didn't answer he stepped closer to her. She glanced at him again, and couldn't help the small smile that came to her face, too.

"That was cute, but don't call me sweetheart ever again." Her smile faded and she continued walking.

Once they all reached the club they say the long line of people waiting outside the door. Luckily, they didn't have to wait. Mei walked straight to the front of the line and they were led upstairs to the VIP area.

"This is great isn't?" Bethany bumped Ella's shoulders with her own, "Finally, you can let loose and stop being so uptight."

Ella rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile because she knew Bethany was right. Little did she know Bethany had a plan brewing in the back of her mind, and it involved making sure Ella didn't ruin Bethany's shot of being the best.

"I'm going to find some shots!" Ezra called over the loud music before disappearing in the large crowd. Bethany and Theo had began making out, and Ella moved to go sit down somewhere. Meili followed her to a seating area with a table and a large couch.

"Why did you come?" Meili asked her.

"I don't know." She answered, "Theo asked me to, and then Bethany kind of made me."

"It's just, I know parties aren't your scene."

"And you?"

"What do you mean?" Mei looked over at her.

Ella watched her, she was poised like a princess. She acted as if she never misstepped in her life. Never tripped, never fallen, never showed any sort of emotion except cold.

"You're always so perfect, Mei. Why do you like coming to these things if you don't like to have fun?"

"I do like to have fun. I drink some and socialize."

"But you never dance, and you barely drink because you can't can you?" Ella pushed her, "The modeling world is tough these days, isn't it? Always expecting you to be at an unhealthy weight."

"And how would you know?"

"I'm a ballerina. You don't think they expect us to always be thin and poised?" Ella answered, turning toward the crowd like Meili.

She watched the bodies move and melt together as one. Then, her eyes flicked to a certain couple in the crowd, Bethany and Theo. They melted together especially. It was like she was rubbing him in Ella's face.

"What? Is little Ella upset that Theo doesn't like her?" Meili cut into her thoughts.

"What are you talking about..."

"Oh, come on, Ella, I know you like him." Mei scoffed, "I saw the way you looked at him freshman year. When we stopped by their lacrosse practice you gave him heart eyes."

"I did not."

"Lovesick or not, you better get over it. Guys like that don't go for girls like you. They go for hot, blonde, barbies with names like Brittany, Emma, or... Bethany." Mei glanced over at Ella, "And unfortunately in today's society, white guys stereotypically go for white girls."

"And what about you? White guys drool over you all the time." Ella looked at Meili who tucked her bone straight hair behind her ear.

"Fortunately for me, I'm an exception." She paused, "And you should ditch the name Ella. Elaheh is so much more beautiful." Meili smirked at her before standing up and approaching the bar where a certain guy had been sitting.

"Oh, this is new. You approached me." Sebastian looked her up and down before doing a shot. Mei took a seat on the stool beside him.

"I'm looking to have fun." She glanced over at him, "Any chance you have any of that lying around?"

"Plenty." He cracked a grin as he slid a shot glass toward her. She took it happily, scrunching her nose at the awful taste.

"That tastes the the color pink." She nodded toward the odd color of the liquor.

"But it makes you feel good, doesn't it?" He asked, and she nodded slowly.

It was true. With every shot she took she felt herself feeling lighter and lighter until she felt like she was a feather.

Shots were what rich kids did when they needed to forget all the problems they shouldn't even have. Maybe their father was having an affair with his secretary again. Maybe their parent was going through their third divorce. Maybe their family was going bankrupt or they were getting cut off by their parents. Whatever it was alcohol would solve their problems or at least medicate them. That, at least, they were taught from a young age.